Mr. Speaker, I wish to table in this House a petition signed by some 40 people, in addition to another petition containing about 15,500 signatures, which I sent directly to the office of the minister responsible for social housing this morning.
These petitions are signed by social housing tenants from all parts of Quebec. They were given to me by the Quebec federation of low-rent housing tenants and by the citizens' committee of Saint-Sauveur, Quebec. These petitions include the signatures of 500 residents of Saint-Hyacinthe that were sent to met by my colleague from Saint-Hyacinthe-Bagot.
The petitioners wish to draw the attention of Parliament to their current precarious situation and their inability to afford the 20 per cent rent increase contemplated by the government. This increase will affect 110,000 Quebec households who live in social housing units and earn an average annual income of $10,000. That translates into an annual rent increase of $500 per household, which is totally unacceptable.
The petitioners urge Parliament to renounce any measures to save money that would impoverish tenants.
I totally and wholeheartedly support this petition and urge the government to take appropriate action.